I love this chocolate.
There. I said it.
I love it for two reasons. One, because it is tasty, and two, because every bite transports me back to memories that I cherish and hope never to forget. Shall we?
Vosges Red Fire Dark Chocolate Bar
What do you get when you combine 55% dark chocolate, Mexican ancho and chipotle chillies, and Ceylon cinnamon into a single vegan and gluten-free bar? First and foremost, you get a deep rich chocolate aroma threaded through with vanilla and warm spice notes.
You also get the memory of the first time you ate this Vosges Red Fire chocolate, which was after a UVA football game in 2007 where the overwhelming brightness of the orange colours in the stands left you sunburnt.
With every bite of this Red Fire chocolate, you taste complexity. Smoke and wood creep in through the two types of chilli used in this bar, while the heat stays hidden until after you’ve swallowed, at which point you suddenly discover a burning tickle at the back of your throat.
It’s a little bit like the choking prickle in your throat that emerges when you remember your time in Virginia and Washington, DC in January last year with Lincoln and Lauren – the very same wonderful friends who sent you this chocolate several months ago. (For those of you new to this blog, you can read more about (and see photos of me with) Lincoln in The Tale Of Mr Bottom and The Speeding Ticket, and can catch a glimpse of the lovely Lauren in this post about Washington, DC [Lauren, I have decided you totally look like Kate/Catherine Middleton in that photo. You're a duchess!]).
This chocolate is not at all bitter, with the 55% cacao content enabling a definite sweetness that counteracts the warmth of the cinnamon and the spice of the chillies. The texture is crisp yet slightly fudgy, with caramel, hot chocolate, dulce de leche, and vanilla ice cream all emerging in the flavour of the dark chocolate itself.
I wrote in my tasting notes that this is “one of those chocolate that is just rich and intriguing and fills both your mouth and mind with happy”, and you know what? I stand by that grammatically incorrect statement. Because the kind of happy that this chocolate makes me feel is akin to the happy I felt in 2007 when Lincoln took me to Monticello and I fell in love with the Autumn colours in the trees, with Jefferson’s bed which was IN THE WALL, and with the friendship of the boy at my side.
Lincoln and Lauren, I miss you like a fireplace, and am so proud of what you’re both achieving in America. I only wish those achievements would somehow bring you closer to me.
Oh, and thank you for the chocolate. It remains one of my Vosges favourites.
This is also one of my Vosges favorites. I mean I love them all (especially the Naga – coconut, curry, and chocolate? more please), but this once is super well-balanced.
Oh, and I can get it at a grocery store a mile away from me
.
I’ve reviewed the Naga (and Theo’s Coconut Curry) chocolate here before, and agree with you – tasty, tasty creativeness! How do you think this one compares to the Oaxaca bar?
Oh, and I’m ignoring the second part of your comment
http://districtchocoholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/vosges-bars-oaxaca.html
I like the red fire better – the Oaxaca is a little too intense on the spice and too dry to carry it well.
That’s exactly how I remember feeling about it – a bit dry and chalky, and not quite melding all the flavours perfectly.
Your descriptions of chocolate are truly epic. Too bad there’s no such thing as a Nobel Prize on chocolate literature, you’d totally deserve it! That category should be invented for you!
It’s funny because, although I’m not a chocolate eater and I don’t know most of the branches you test (at least I know Lindt chocolate
), I always enjoy your chocolate reviews. They’re artwork.
I also loved the pictures you included in this post – the orange-dressed crowd and especially the trees. I believe sensual experiences aren’t necessarily limited to a single sensory faculty, but rather can be enjoyed with all your senses. It starts with unfolding the paper (haptic) and hearing how it crinkles (auditory) – good chocolates have lovelily crinkling wrapping paper – and then (still auditory) hearing the sound the chocolate makes when you break it. (I believe that some chocolates break with a rather dry sound, and others with a soft sound.) Then (haptic again), touching the surface of the chocolate … which is soft if it’s a plain chocolate bar, and a little rough when there are nuts or pieces of caramel in it. Of course, at least now we have sight involved (visual), when you look at the surface of the bar and get an opportunity to peek into the inside at the point where you’ve broken the bar. (Some chocolates promise amazing creaminess now already. You can actually *see* the degree of creaminess, no?) You continue with taking a piece you have broken from the bar and smell it (olfactory) – and now a world of flavors opens up to you. It’s like doing a wine tasting: There are so many flavors that can only be detected if you take your time to smell them appropriately, then lean back and let the aromes selectively revive memories from the past … Then, *finally*, the actual tasting (gustatory) takes place, and if it’s a good chocolate, and explosion of flavor will take place now. Some of them you know already from the smelling (although not all the flavors of the scent are actually tasteable), and some are new. So you see, the tasting stand at the end, and if you’re a real chocolate taster (and you *are*), a lot of things have been going on before …
Holy moly! You call me epic and then you absolutely outdo me with your smarty-oooh-clever description, complete with science-talk, of eating chocolate? I bow down to you, O Kath.
Also, people don’t use the word “haptic” enough these days… But h ey, you’re in Germany, which means you should have access to the weird and wacky world of Zotter chocolate! That stuff is amazepants…
Wonderful chocolate descriptions! My mouth is watering right now!
Thanks Miri!
WAHOOWA/aw! :’( Lincoln and I will be in different countries in East/Southeast Asia this summer, so if you have any frequent flier miles, you have your pick of student dorms in Taiwan, Vietnam or Malaysia!
Also, I think you’re seeing Kate Middleton in the sort-of smirk I have going on.
HOO-RAH-RAY! HOO-RAH-RAY! RAY! RAY! UVA!
Oh, how I’d long to fly out and explore those countries with you both! Alas, it’s not a matter of frequent flier miles, but of full-time work and not having built up leave yet
But Asia is so close… swing by me on your way home? 
P.S. Was that you casting aspersions on my future future queen! YOU TAKE THAT BACK. Teehee. It’s funny, because I really don’t care…
Actually, I love her! I think she’s so pretty. I watched a four hour broadcast of the wedding *twice*.
But the only thing we have in common is brown hair, blue eyes, and that kind-of-crooked smile/smirk. Much to my dismay.
Oh wow. That’s impressive! Twice? I got swept up in the excitement and couldn’t wait to see the dress, but then after the vows I got really bored… so I watched an episode of Gilmore Girls and then came back for the balcony kiss(esOMG).
You also have beauty, kindness, an awesome fashion style, a lovely partner, and an air of regalness in common. You definitely have more smarts though
I want this chocolate now! Where can I get it?!
You, my dear, would be able to find it easily! I often got Vosges at Whole Foods, and I remember finding a magnificent chocolate shop in Beacon Hill back in 2008…
Beacon Hill Chocolates!
That’s the one!! There was a standard poodle sleeping on the floor when I visited. And the Chuao chocolate! The Chuao chocolate! *sigh*
I am a BIG BIG fan of chilli and chocolate – so this sounds just perfect!
It’s truly wonderful… stupid Australia!
for one moment I thought that your amazing close up pic of the chocolate with heaps of chilli flakes actually looked like a crowd of people – then I realised it was people
lovely post because food is so much about people and memories and and I am glad this chocolate is full of both (metaphorically speaking of course)
*laughs and laughs* People-infused chocolate is one step too far for me, I think! Not a fan of cannibalism myself
Ooh. This looks so amazing! I have a sneaking suspicion it will not be accessible to me on this continent though, so I’ll have to live vicariously through your photos. It’s also nice to share in your memories of America
If you like these memories of America, Kari, you might just be even more interested in today’s upcoming post…
I also have been nibbling on a Vosges bar as of late; I’m always so pleased when I eat Vosges. I’m not telling you anything new though, you know as well as I do the happiness of good chocolate…
I haven’t been to the Monticello you speak of, although there’s always the uninspiring town of Monticello, Minnesota to consider. Don’t forget about that gem.
Heading to the South soon…. hope to find me some NASCAR and some good ol’ boys. Some shotguns and some cane poles. Some grits and some bourbon. Some rebel flags and some po’ boys. And all that other southern stuff!
Haha, Emma, I’ll try to make it to Minnesota next time I visit the States. Though are there any exciting beds in that town? I’m only interested in seeing exciting beds…
I know you’re half-joking about half of those Southern things, but when I visited Lincoln in his town in southern Virginia, there truly were confederate flags everywhere…
It sounds delish – and how great that one bite transported back to a great memory.
That’s the power of good food, right?
Oh… I think I will like this chocolate. I love that the heat creeps up and up. And love the photo of the mass. Brilliant!
Just times that mass of people by about five billion, and you’ve got an idea of what the whole packed stadium looked like!!
Spice and chocolate are one of those combinations where you have to ask yourself why?? Why is this so good? Why can’t I eat it all the time?
What do you mean, “why can’t I eat it all the time?” I totally do!
I’m thinking the cinnamon might actually be tolerable in a melange such as this.
I could barely taste the cinnamon, so I’d like to think it would be tolerable to you! But then I remember my ability to sniff out the tiniest hint of orange in chocolate…
Aaawwwhhhhh, “I miss you like a fireplace” – you thing you ….., you’ve got a way with words y’do
Chillies & chocolate…. love it
Aw, thanks Anna! I just tried to think of something I love and want in my life…
P.S. Any news??
I’ve tried a few varieties of spicy chocolate, and while they were good, they weren’t necessarily “my thing”..
Did you study abroad in the US or just do a far amount of visiting?
I’ll happily eat your share then!!
Both, actually! Stay tuned for today’s post…
I always wondered how chili chocolates taste! O mannn~this is making me droooool. Thanks a lot Hannah, now I need a new computer!
hehe
Chili chocolate tastes like deliciousness! And you have so many varieties in your country – go forth and buy! (After you get the new computer, of course
)
I don’t think I’ve ever had spicy chocolate, but I’ll try anything chocolately once
And I, my dear, will always try anything chocolatey four hundred times
I’ve tried their bacon chocolate bar. It was really… underwhelming. Thought I was going to hate it, but you really can’t taste much bacon at all. I was kind of let down, for something I thought I was going to passionately hate.
And I think I’ve had a lemon chili chocolate bar before. It was something I had in France. It hurt. But in a good way
Interesting, I’ve had the Mo’s Bacon Bar about four times and have actually gone back and forth on it, while also being interested by how different people’s experiences of it are. I’ve come to believe that there’s a great deal of variation in it in terms of the strength/generosity of the bacon dispersal, which impacts massively on its flavour. I’ve had some that are insanely meaty, and some which are only vaguely smoky. Silly Vosges!
Oooh, lemon chilli! That sounds great!
Hannah,
Aw, I’m flattered to be mentioned in your blog and to be associated with a spicy chocolate bar. Every time I open a bottle of vegemite and mix it will Jelly, I think about our adventures with mr. bottom, the police, and the low budget roller coaster simulator we rode together in the mall. Seriously, we had some great times, and I hope to see you again sometime in the near future. As Lauren mentioned above, I will be in Vietnam and Malaysia this summer. So, I will (kind of) be in the neighborhood!
Oh Lincoln, you just made me burst out laughing! I’d temporarily forgotten about that roller coaster simulator. Actually, I’d probably blocked it out on purpose, because it was so terrifying with the devil and the red and the shaking and the how did we ever survive? HOLD ME.
I deeply, deeply hope and dream that we’ll see each other again soon. Though, you know, I’ve been to America twice… it’s your turn to visit me.
Reading this got me all choked up, and not in a chilli-in-the-back-of-your-throat type way. I hope you can get more of this for when you need some extra happy in your mind (because, you know, I can’t be there to poke some in for you (poke in the happy, not the chocolate, I don’t want you to get literally choked (third set of parentheses! Woo!)))
Of course, it may just be hormones talking. Stupid hormones.
How is it, Conor, that you managed to talk about “poking in the happy” without bursting into hysterics? Because I myself can’t stop giggling. *must refrain from continuing making jokes on this subject for reasons of public decency…*
P.S. Hug hug hug hug! xo
Now you’ve done it again Hannah. I want to try some of this chocolate bar. Except that perhaps it might seem like I’m intruding on your private moment with it?
Just make sure you knock before you enter.
Oh dear heavens what is wrong with me tonight? My grandma reads this!
Bwaahaahaa! I almost spat out my drink when I read that! LOL
Then my complete loss of dignity and lady-like status was worth it…
haha wait until grandma calls!
:S
Sheer poetry, dear Hannah. And i LOVE the photo of it close up – makes me want to go and start looking for some hot chilli chocolate right now…..
Kath, if anyone is sure to have chilli chocolate somewhere in their house, it’s you
And before long, it will be GENEVA chilli chocolate! Woo!
Listen to you lovely legs…. When I grow up I wanna write just like you, lovely description of a superb choccie. WANT!
I want some mind filled with happy.
PS: Surname – Newton
And when I grow up, I want your skills at risotto-making
We’ll make sure your mind gets filled with happy when we go for drinks soon!
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Oh, and did I mention that I went to UVA for graduate school? Yeah, but I graduated in 2002, got married and had a baby before you showed up there!
No, you hadn’t mentioned that! How exciting!
Wait… are you secretly Tina Fey in disguise then? 
I walked past the Vosges store in Soho in New York and I DIDN’T GO IN. WHY DIDN’T I GO IN? I DON’T KNOW. Some temporary madness must have seized me.
I got the Vosges bacon bar and the black pearl bar when I was in San Francisco, though. I think the bacon bar is as close as I will ever get to understanding the addictiveness of crack cocaine.
I’m setting up a parcel-forwarding account so I can buy more Vosges bars from their website, since they’re all namby-pamby about it and seem to refuse to compromise the quality of their product by shipping it anywhere that will take too long to reach or places to which the journey cannot be guaranteed to be temperature controlled. It’s like US$75 to ship just to the UK! But I neeeed more bacon bars. And also the peanut butter bar. And also all of the other bars, pretty much. Sigh.
Jess! Oh, Jess! You really should have gone in, for in the stores themselves can be found a plethora of other delicious goodies, such as caramel and chocolate covered chips and hot chocolate mixes and…. Ah well, I’m fairly certain you won’t have been depriving yourself overall
Ah, see, people have such different experiences with the Bacon bar! Vosges really needs to work on standardising that piece… and I know it’s not just personal preference, because I’ve had wildly different reactions to different bars of it myself!
P.S. I totally have one of the peanut butter bars in my house right now.
P.P.S. I think I’ll join you once you set up that account.
Aw
as if eating good chocolate isn’t a sentimental experience in its own right. Will have to look out for Vosges next time I (sigh) travel.
Oh, I know that sigh! If it makes you feel any better, the stabbing ache of travel-longing quietens down after a year or so, although at times it hits when you least expect it…
This is my favorite Vosges chocolate bar! It’s absolutely incredible! Of all the chili chocolate bars I’ve tried, this one has the most intense chili flavor. All the others I’ve tried aren’t bold enough. I want to feel the spice. I want to feel the heat. And I want it to mingle with the chocolate in a way that my mouth is bursting with a spicy sweetness! It’s a perfect bar if you ask me!
It’s definitely up there with my favourite Vosges too
Have you tried the Oaxaca one? I must say I think that has a more intense chilli flavour than the Red Fire, but I don’t think it works as well – the chocolate itself tastes a bit burnt to me.
I absolutely agree with you, too, in that when I eat chilli chocolate, I want it to be chilli-y chilli chocolate!
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